Improved machine fop making horseshoes



UNITED STATES,

PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY BURDEN, OFTROY, NEV YORK.

IMPROVED MACHINE FOP MAKING HORSESHOES.

all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY BURDEN, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer', and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machinery for Making Shoes for Horses and Mules; and I hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, Plates I, II, III, IV, and V. They have all been made to a scale of two inches to the foot and correctly represent the form and sizes of the several parts in the different drawings.

My machine is designed to make shoes from rods as they are discharged from the train of the rollingmill and without reheating. They are usually rolled square, of a size adapted to the size of the shoe, and are placed on leaving the train into a trough made of cast-iron 0r other suitable material. It is represented in the drawings at A2, Plates I and II, and is mostconveniently made in sections of about twelve feet each. The end nearest the machine is supported by a standard E, attached to the side of the machine by two bolts. The other end may be supported by legs or other appropriate means.

The successive operations of my machine upon the rod are as follows: First a portion of it of suitable length to form the shoe is drawn into the machine and cutoff. It is then bent around a form into the shape of the letter U. The heels of the shoe are bent still further inward, while it next passes between two revolving swagingdies that compress and roll it into its proper shape. Then it is creased and punched, and finally it is taken from the dies and flattened and dropped .in a finished state upon a revolving chain that deposits it in the store-house. Thile one shoe is being creased and punched another portion of the rod is drawn into the machine, and thus it proceeds contin uousl y. The means of performing these operations will be described in their order.

The feeding apparatus consists, mainly, of two rollers D and D. They revolve continuously and are connected by two equal spurwheels G2 and G3 upon their shafts near the lower journals. The upper one is fixed in its position. The lower one may approach or recede from it, and when they are so near as to embrace the rod itis fed into the machine.

IVhen farther apart their action upon the rod ceases. The bearings of the upper shaft are fixed on projections L and L', cast or attached to the frame. Those of the lower shaft are in a movable frame D2 D2, which has its center of motion on the shaft it. The other end of this frame is attached to and receives its motion from the short arm of the cutting-lever A A A, Plates I, Il, and V. The connection is made by means of au arm extending from one to the other through the frame, with shoulders on the inside and screws with nuts p p on the outside. A slot 'y' is made in the frame of sufficient length to allow the motion of the arm, and also a hole o5 for the passage of the rod. The bevel-wheels DT and D, with teeth in the proportion of one to two, communicate motion to the feeding-rolls from the shaft 7c.

To cut off .the rod a stationary cutter g, Figure 7 and Plate V, is attached by a screw-bolt to a projection on the inside of the frame in such a position that the rod slides over it on its passage to the machine. The movable cutter g is affixed by a screw-bolt to the cutting-lever A A, which has its fulcrum at Q., attached to the inside of the frame. Its long arm rests upon the cam P, which revolves with the shaft 7c, and when raised thereby the upper cutter is brought down upon the rod and cuts it off. At the same time the lower feeding-roll recedes from the upper and suspends the feeding' action. A spring w aids the weight of the arm to raise the cutter after the rod has been cut off, and to recommence the feeding action by pressing the lower feeding-roll against the rod.

Connected with the feeding apparatus are both a self-acting device to stop its action when a portion of the rod remains too short to form a perfect shoe, and also a means to commence the feeding at the right time with reference to the other machinery whena new rod is to be fed into the machine. To eect the former object is, first, the catch u u u. (Fully shown in Plate Il.) It moves easily upon its center X, and in a perpendicular position its two arms balance each other. Vhen it is inclined to the right and rests upon its stopping-pin it has no effect upon the feeding-rolls but when it is inclined to the left, as represented in the drawings, it catches the projection d on the movable frame D2 and holds the upper cutter down andthe feedingrolls apart. An indicator B2, attached to the arm C2, that moves easily on its bearing B', slides upon the heated rod as it passes under it into the machine. Its distance from the feeding-rolls is just equal to the length of rod required to form a shoe, and when less than that quantity passes from it to the rolls it slides over the end of the rod, and drops down through a hole in the feeding-trough, and at thersame time a pin P', Plate I, projecting from the arm C2, strikes against the catch and inclines it into a position to prevent the further action of the feeding-rolls. The feeding action will recommence on disengaging the catch; but it is manifest that this must be done during the time that the cam P would hold the feeding-rolls apart, otherwise a portion of the rod would be fed into the machine less than enough to make a perfect shoe and injury might result to the machinery, and as the unlocking at the right moment, when the machinery is in rapid motion, could not safely be entrusted to the attendant, it is necessaryl that it should be done by the machine itself,

and for this purpose there is provided the lever c', having its fulcrum at x2 on the side ot' the machine. Its lower arm when moved presses against the pin (dotted on the catch and forces it back. A spring QJ holds it forward and against the stop u to prevent any interference with the catch when not required. At the end of the other arm is attached the conmeeting-rod F'by a joint at f. It has a notch at f',which,when caught by the projection G' in the rocking shaft J, (the motions of which are at the right time for this purpose,) moves the lever 'v' and unlocks the catch. The lower end of the connecting-rod is supported by a loop f2 on the side of the spring-handle F2, which holds it out of contact with the proj ection G', unless the handle is pressed down by the operator. Vhen a new rod is to be fed into the machine, the attendant raises the indicator until it is caught and held up by the spring y. He takes the scrap from t-he machine and moves the rod up against the cutter. Then the indicator is let down upon it, and placing his hand upon the handle F2 holds it down to the stop R until at the proper moment the projection G', catching into the notch f', unlocks the, feeding-rolls, and then action recommences.

The means of bending the portion of the rod that forms the shoe, which are next to be described, are most fully represented in Plates I and IV and Fig. 8, Plate V. The rod when it is fed into the machine passes into the movable guides or holders I2 I2 against the stop O2 and in front of the bending-tongue E, and when it is cut off they hold it in its place. These guides are fully represented in Plate I, supporting the rod on three sides. There is one on each side of the large roll H5, and

v these are placed on movable standards H2 H2,

for purposes hereinafter mentioned. Imme-A diately after the rod is cut off the bendingtongue E, having a small projecting edge in front, as shown by the dotted lines in PlateI,

to prevent the rod from slipping, moves up against the center of the rod and carries it forward between the holders until it is bent round the tongue into the desired shape. The frame H, to which the tongue is attached by screw-bolts, has two legs, one on each side of the great roll H5, terminating in rings fitted to move on the shaft F. Its motion forward is given by two cams M and M in the shaft 7c, which bears against the small cams Z and Z in the frame. To insure its backward motion, an arm K, proceeding from the rocking shaft J and resting on the frame II, is

raised by it until the bending-tongue has attained its proper height, when the cam L on the shaft k strikes against the other arm z', projecting from the shaft J, and forces down the frame and bending-tongue. On the periphery of the large roll H5 are two swagingdies J2 and M4, placed opposite to each other. Their surfaces are Iitted to impress upon .the upper side of the horseshoe the precise form which it is desired to give it. It is shown in Figs. 9 and 1 0 on Plate V. The central portion e, the sides of which give shape to the inner edge of the shoe, is elevated above the rest as much as the thickness of the shoe. The sur-- face of the upper swaging-die B B is fitted to make'the plane even surface of the under side of the shoe, and as the inner edge is properly made thinner than the outside the natural tendency of the swaging process is to force the rod out from under the swages. This has heretofore constituted one of the greatest obstacles to the forming of shoes by means of revolving dies, and, so far as I have known, it has never before my invention been over come. I have entirely removed the difficulty by making upon the upper die a ange b b, projecting downward to nearly the thickness of the shoe, and, except at the toe, embraces it entirely on the outside. The tendency to straighten thus entirely prevented and a smooth and perfect surface given to the outer edge of the shoe. It is best represented in Figs. 5 and G, Plate V. The cams M M are so formed that the forward motion of the bending-tongue commences when the portion of the lower die, which forms the toe of the shoe, comes in contact with or is opposite to its point. It then moves forward with the die as if it formed a part of it, and the rod when bent around is directly over the position at the toe it would occupy on the die. The toe of the shoe is properly made wider than the sides, and the front of it much thicker than the interior beveled edge, and to allow the iron at the toe to be spread inward for that purpose immediately after the toe of the shoe has been caught between the swaging-dies the bending-tongue. is drawn back out of the way. At the same time the two cams S S on the shaft N are brought in contact with the guides I and I upon the movable standards H2 and H2, and these cause the guides or holders I2 and l2 to approach each other and press the ends of the shoe against the elevated central portion of the lower die and within the flange on the upper die. The standards are attached at the bottom by a joint to the arms J and J, east upon the inside of the frame. At the top they slide on the crosspiece M. Another cani e e', Plate IV, moves back the holders to their first position.

Instead of making the swaging-dies upon the surfaces ofthe rolls II and H5, I make them in separate pieces, as in my former horseshoe -1nachines, and described in `my patents of 1835 and 1Std, and attach them to those rows by bolts and screws. They can thus be readily repaired or shifted to make different forms and sizes of shoes. A recess is cast in the periphery of the rolls7 as shown by Plate IV. Into this the dies are accurately fitted. Slots or mortises are also made in the rolls, into which the tenons at the ends of the dies (shown in Figs. 5 and 9, Plate V) accurately fit and prevent their lateral displacement. A bolt with a countersunk he-ad passes through the middle of each die and into the roll and fastens it by a screw and nut on the other side. After passing between the dies the shoe is liable to adhere to the upper die, by which great'injury may result to the machinery. It is therefore indispensable to the practicability of the machine that means should be provided to make the shoe adhere with certainty to the lower die and pass on to be subjected to the next operation. Two proj ections/r4 and o3, Plate IV, are cast 'upon the frame of the machine. To these is attached by screws and bolts an arm M2, Plates I and IV, and to this is screwed what term the scraper7 m3. This is made of steel, and its front edge scrapes along the surface of the upper die and separates from it the shoe. A portion of the flange at the toe is eut away to admit its passage. The elevated portion of the under die passes nearly in contact with its under surface. A similar device takes the shoe from the creasing and punching` die. The last-named die, to which the shoe is next subjected, is made in parts, as specified in my said former patents, that the creasers m and m may be replaced or shifted to other sizes and forms. Its construction will be readily seen from Figs. l, 2, and ll, Plate V. The creasers are firmly held by the clamps u2 and u2 on the outside and drawn together by bolts with heads N on one side and nuts n and screws on the other. Two adj ustingscrews o and o regulate the depth of the creases and holes. It is essential that the upper and lower dies should accurately meet each other in their proper relative positions.

In my former horseshoe-machines adjusting-screws were provided at the ends of the dies; but they did nothold them to their places so firmly and securely as the mode adopted in this machine. Besides, they are liable to be displaced by the wearing of the cogs on the gearing and what is termed backlash.

I have devised a new inode of effecting the adjustment and providing for wearing. The

cog-wheels C and S are made in two sec-,

tions. Those of the wheel C are represented at C and C', Figs. 3 and 4, Plate V, and at the same letters on Plate I. The section C is movable on C', and the two are held together by three bolts e e and c, with heads onone end and screws and nuts on the other. Slots are made for the passage of the bolts through C, so as to admit the requisite motion. A projection g4 is dovetailed into or cast upon the section C', and extends into the mortise on section C. rlwo wedges are fitted into the mortise on each side of the projection g4, so that by loosening one and driving the other the relai' tive position of the sections may be changed, and thus the dies adjusted and the backlash prevented. It remains to take the shoe from the lower die, and, as it has the curve of the surface of that die, to flatten it. A brace t4, Plate IV,and Fig.l2,Plate V, is placed between the two sides of the frame, to which it is attached by bolts and screws t5, Plate II, and helps to support them. A portion of it x5 is made plain, and the shoe is fiattened by being pressed against it by the iattener t. To the brace are attached two scrapers v4 and t4, having an edge on theinside of each that scrapes the surface of the lower die, permitting the elevated portion to pass between them. They thus take the shoe from it and conduct it down between the sides of the iiattener onto the projection s2 at its lower end. The iiattener is attached to the shaft n, at the end of which is fixed the lever U, pressed by the spring `102 against the cam V, which, being connected with the shaft F of the big roll, revolves with it and gives to the ilattener the requisite motion. A strap S is attached to the brace to hold the pin z, extending into a slot in t. By the shape of the cani the flattener is first held open su'ficient to receive thc shoe. Then it closes to Hatten the shoe. Then it opens so wide that the pin .c pushes the shoe off from the projection s2 and it drops upon the endless chain to be carried to'the storehouse.

The form of the frame Q', attached to the bed-plate Q2, and the arrangement of the gearing are fully shown by the drawings. The machine is driven by a belt on the large flywheel. The wheels S, C', and K2 are each one-half the diameter of c and revolve twice, making two slices to one revolution of the latter.

I am aware that several attempts have been heretofore made to perform that portion of the above-described operations which consist in swaging the shoe by passing it between two revolving dies. The most prominent of these is the device patented to Brazella Young and Samuel Titus in the year 1837; but all these attempts have, I believe, been attended with no practical benefits for the want of those particular means I have above set forth for performing that process. I do not, however, claim the process of passing the shoe between revolving dies generally, but limit myself to the particular devices by which I have renforth of cutting off the rod, alsothe self-act-Y ing device for stopping the feeders and the mode of renewing their action at the proper time.

2. The mode of bending the rod and placing it'in its proper position between the swaging-dies, as above set forth.

3. The Iiange on the upper swaging-die, for the uses and purposes specified.

4. The combination of the revolving creasing and punching die with the revolving swaging-dies by which both operations are successively and automatically performed.

5. The devices set forth for taking the shoe from the upper and confining it to the lower dies, and finally taking it from the lower dies and conducting it to the 'lattener.

6. The means described. for iattening the shoe.

7. The combination and arrangement of machinery by which the several processes above described are performed successively by one machine and without aid from attendants.

I do not mean to limit myself to the precise means of performing the operations above set forth, as they evidently admit of several variations; but I claim those devices or their equivalents which shall substantially effect theT same purpose.

fitness my hand.

HENRY BURDEN.

lVitnesses:

WMF. BURDEN, J AMEs E. DENNIsTowN. 

